George Foster (baseball)
George Arthur Foster (born December 1, 1948) is an American former professional baseball player and scout. He played in Major League Baseball as an outfielder from 1969 through 1986, most notably as an integral member of the Cincinnati Reds, with whom he won two World Series championships, in 1975 and 1976. He also played for the San Francisco Giants, New York Mets and the Chicago White Sox.
George Foster
.274
348
1,239
A five-time All-Star, Foster was one of the most feared right-handed sluggers of his era, leading the National League in home runs in 1977 and 1978, and in RBIs in 1976, 1977, and 1978.[1] He won the National League's Most Valuable Player Award in 1977 and a Silver Slugger Award in 1981.[2] In 2003, Foster was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame.[1]
San Francisco Giants[edit]
Born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Foster attended Leuzinger High School in Lawndale, California. After just a single year at El Camino College, Foster was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the third round of the 1968 Major League Baseball draft. After two seasons in their farm system, he debuted with the Giants at 20 years old in September 1969. He went two-for-five with one run batted in as a pinch hitter and late inning defensive replacement. That year on September 22, Willie Mays pinch hit for Foster and hit his career home run number 600.[3]
Foster returned to the Giants in September of the following year, hitting his first career home run off the San Diego Padres' Pat Dobson.[4] He finally made an opening day roster in 1971 as a fourth outfielder behind Mays, Bobby Bonds and Ken Henderson, but was traded to the Cincinnati Reds shortly after the season started for shortstop Frank Duffy and pitcher Vern Geishert.[5]
Career statistics[edit]
In 1,977 games over 18 seasons, Foster compiled a .274 batting average (1,925-for-7,023) with 986 runs, 307 doubles, 47 triples, 348 home runs, 1,239 Run batted in (RBI), 666 walks, 1,419 strikeouts, a .338 on-base percentage and a .480 slugging percentage. He posted a .984 fielding percentage at all three outfield positions. In 23 post-season games (three appearances in the World Series, four appearances in the NLCS), he hit .289 (22-for-76) with eleven runs, two doubles, three home runs, twelve runs batted in and eight walks.
Senior Professional Baseball Association[edit]
Afterwards, Foster played from 1989 to 1990 in the Senior Professional Baseball Association. In his first season, he hit .269 with 11 home runs and 52 RBI in 70 games for the St. Lucie Legends.[45] In 1990, he joined the St. Petersburg Pelicans and batted .273 in three games for the club before the league folded during the midseason.[46]
In February 2010, Foster was hired as a scout advisor for the Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball.[47]
Personal life[edit]
He has two daughters, Shawna and Starr.
Foster began a baseball online radio show, "The George Foster Diamond Report", in which he speaks about how the development and strength of an athlete can build a strong foundation. Foster spends time instructing youth in baseball techniques, and also works as a motivational speaker.[48] He operates a non-profit organization that supports children of military families and who live in inner city neighborhoods. He also sponsors baseball boot camps for children as well as a Cincinnati select baseball team, Foster's Force.[49][50][51][52]
Foster was on the National Baseball Hall of Fame ballot for four years, having his highest total of 6.9% in 1993 before being dropped off after garnering 4.1% of the vote in 1995. He was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 2003,[53] He was a celebrity participant in the 2010 Cincinnati Reds/Findlay Market Opening Day Parade and he frequently returns to Cincinnati for the annual Redsfest and other reunion events. He was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 2002.[54]